Still Smarter

My water pump packed up today.
This is the second one in as many months.
I've been using a 12v caravan submersible water pump.
Worked well, but didn't last long.

So what pumps do you guys (or gals) use.
I would prefer 1/2" hose pipe size.
Pointers, suggestions, or links to suppliers please.
Thanks in advance.

Ele.

I have always used whale caravan pumps for wash and found them brilliant. For larger volumes 1" italian wine transfer pumps are very sensible money & preform well.

If you are talking about a coolant water pump for the still, the solar pumps are very popular

Thanks, Ah... It's for coolant.

Ele.

I have used for a few years a Hozelock water butt pump for my coolant. I tried to order a second one to go in my new tank, but it was not available. Instead I ordered this one. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07 ... UTF8&psc=1

Same performance but with a float valve that the first one did not have. It gives you mains pressure water which is ideal for condensers.

Just check flow rates and head heights. Many pond pumps are really not good enough, something that can handle an irrigation system is more suitable.

Being a cheapskate I bought one of these!
Its certainly cheap off Fleabay at £15.

I have found that it works fine on the Straight pot Still, but does not like the Height or back pressure of the Boka condenser.
With a straight 1/2" bore pipe on the Pot condenser the flow is pretty good and raises the water from floor level to about 1.6 metres without difficulty.
The extra lift to 2.2 Metres is just a step to far if you want a decent flow / throughput.
Its very quiet, and is supposedly for Solar Water Panels, and a 40,000 hour MBTF figure, but I wouldn't take a lot of notice!
I have seen the same pump elsewhere for £50 or more.
So if you don't need a high lift figure this might be a useful part to have.

I prefer 12v dc for water pumps, as I dont trust Chinese Electronics that much. Water and 240V is not something I would like to mix.

I have burned out two Caravan water pumps (the drop in the barrel types) so thought I would try the above. They worked well, but are not designed for Long periods of work.
I like the pump that Myles posted,but its a bit expensive, and a bit OTT for what I need.

Just thought this info would be useful.

Ele.

For coolant I use Hozelock water butt pumps. They give you mains pressure water.

For moving wash etc I use a Chugger pump.

I also have a mini-mag pump on my still boiler for pumping hot dunder/backset to the top of the plated column for cleaning purposes.

I distill in 25 ltre buckets, grunt and lift.

Robert.

I have chopped up a sleeping bag and the inkbird is due today. Grunt and Lift are a thing of the past hopefully.

I'll second the Chugger option, not cheap, but you only buy once.

I've two on my brewing plant, one for wort, one for water and I've never had a problem.

At one time they were a bit tricky to get hold of as they only made occasional batches of 50 Herz pumps but well worth the wait.

JP.

I use a T500 boiler so use one of theirs, nice and easy leaves
more time for Nursey cuddling and Rum.

Maybe I'm a pragmatist.
When I can't grunt and lift FV's, I'll be moving on.
Occupational therapy has never appealed.

Robert.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 1211875740

I use chrome hozelock fittings and platinum cured silicone hose on a lowara mag pump for beer/water.

1 inch stuff for wine. All my pumps get used for product and then washing/rinsing water so by the end the pump is clean too.

Not a water pump but looks useful for filling and emptying your still.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-12V-Brewi ... 0005.m1851

And some one who is taking the piss
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Empty-clear- ... Swza9b22nW

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3497979165

These are incredibly cheap, quick and easy. I have one on a bit of rod and use it as a pumped racking cane.

Now, that has me needing to test my reflexes!
A pumped racking cane at over 10 litres a minute!
I can see that it may be useful, but anticipate such a flow rate sucking the crud from the bottom?
I certainly couldn't swap bottles fast enough to use it when bottling!

Robert.

Depends on the size of the bottles.

It does work work well as a racking pump, extend the cane further past the pump to control crud. And when you cut the power you have a syphon, so you don't have to pump all the way.

Very good until I moved up to a bigger FV's

I will be using mine to fill the still.

My water pump packed up today.
This is the second one in as many months.

Whale brand or Chinese copy?